I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Children of Darkness by David Litwack Published by Evolved Publishing on 6-22-2015
Genres: Dystopia, Fantasy
Pages: 314
Format: eBook
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"But what are we without dreams?"
A thousand years ago the Darkness came-a terrible time of violence, fear, and social collapse when technology ran rampant. But the vicars of the Temple of Light brought peace, ushering in an era of blessed simplicity. For ten centuries they have kept the madness at bay with "temple magic," and by eliminating forever the rush of progress that nearly caused the destruction of everything. ~ Childhood friends, Orah and Nathaniel, have always lived in the tiny village of Little Pond, longing for more from life but unwilling to challenge the rigid status quo. When their friend Thomas returns from the Temple after his "teaching"-the secret coming-of-age ritual that binds young men and women eternally to the Light-they barely recognize the broken and brooding young man the boy has become. Then when Orah is summoned as well, Nathaniel follows in a foolhardy attempt to save her. ~ In the prisons of Temple City, they discover a terrible secret that launches the three on a journey to find the forbidden keep, placing their lives in jeopardy, for a truth from the past awaits that threatens the foundation of the Temple. If they reveal that truth, they might once again release the potential of their people. ~ Yet they would also incur the Temple's wrath as it is written: "If there comes among you a prophet saying, 'Let us return to the darkness,' you shall stone him, because he has sought to thrust you away from the Light."
The Children of Darkness is a revised version of There Comes a Prophet, a book I highly rated.
In this dystopia, a future dark age has descended upon mankind. A religious group has taken control and maintains peace by intimidation and power. Most technology has been forgotten, except what the church has maintained to keep their power (medicine, wireless communication, etc.). Three young people (Nathaniel, Orah, and Thomas) are dreamers who are at odds with the church and look for a way to make their world a better place.
I really loved this novel. It is extremely imaginative and has an intriguing world and characters. The three and their friendship really propels the story forward. Orah and Nathaniel are extremely strong, but Thomas has a few surprises as well. The Keep and forgotten technology is a wonderful mystery the book marches towards solving. The vicars and church are intimidating but yet not overly done to be a caricature.
Really the only negative I can think of if a few scenes just bog down with character thoughts and dialogue. But that is really minor and rare. Overall, it was a fun ride and I’m really looking forward to the next book where they explore the other side of the ocean.
About David Litwack
The urge to write first struck when working on a newsletter at a youth encampment in the woods of northern Maine. It may have been the night when lightning flashed at sunset followed by northern lights rippling after dark. Or maybe it was the newsletter’s editor, a girl with eyes the color of the ocean. But he was inspired to write about the blurry line between reality and the fantastic.
Using two fingers and lots of white-out, he religiously typed five pages a day throughout college and well into his twenties. Then life intervened. He paused to raise two sons and pursue a career, in the process becoming a well-known entrepreneur in the software industry, founding several successful companies. When he found time again to daydream, the urge to write returned.
There Comes a Prophet, published in July 2012, was the first novel in this new stage of life. His second, Along the Watchtower, came out in June 2013.
David and his wife split their time between Cape Cod, Florida and anywhere else that catches their fancy. He no longer limits himself to five pages a day and is thankful every keystroke for the invention of the word processor.
